Foundation Leveling Services

If you’ve noticed cracks spreading vertically up your walls or uneven floors, your home is showing signs of structural damage. These may be indications that your house isn’t on even soil and the foundation needs to be leveled.

Understanding why your house is sinking is the first step in determining the most effective and cost efficient method of repair. Failing to address the cause of the problem will guarantee any repairs to level your foundation will need to be repeated in the future.

Regardless of the age of your home, it’s important that you inspect your foundation on a regular basis. Settlement is a normal occurrence in all houses. Too much settling or sinking will harm the structural integrity of your home. Addressing things early on can often minimize the cost of necessary repairs.

Below are the most common ways Keystone Basement Systems can put your home back on even ground.

Foundation Underpinning

Underpinning is the restoration or reinforcement of a house foundation that has failed or is failing. Depending on the severity of damage, soil movement or settling, underpinning may be the first step in partial or complete foundation replacement.

Before any work begins, we will check local building codes and acquire any necessary permits. Utility lines and plumbing may need to be disconnected so temporary supports can raise the main structure of your house.

Once your home is properly supported, we will begin excavating around the most damaged section of your foundation, and removing the debris. Concrete is then poured around the existing footers to improve the stability of your foundation.

This process is repeated as necessary until all damaged sections of your foundation have been repaired, and your home is level and safe.

Foundation Piering

Piering is the process of installing vertical beams or posts that lift and add support to foundations damaged by soil movement. Horizontal support beams may need to be added for additional reinforcement. Both vertical piers and horizontal support beams can be made of reinforced concrete or high-strength steel.

Keystone Basement Systems will acquire any necessary permits and ensure all local building codes are met. We will also coordinate with your utility companies to shut off and disconnect any pipes or lines that will be affected.

Excavating your foundation will be done one section at a time once the main structure of your home has been lifted and is properly supported. The vertical posts will be driven deep enough to reach the solid bedrock beneath your home. We will add new horizontal support beams and connect them to the new foundation piers.

This process continues until all damaged sections of your foundation have been repaired, and your home is level and safe.

Joists

Joists are structural supports that run horizontally between foundation walls. When foundations begin sinking, the weight these beams were designed to hold becomes unbalanced and leads to sagging or uneven floors.

Keystone Basement Systems will test the strength and condition of your floor joists. If existing joists are bearing a load beyond their designed capacity, we can repair them by sistering additional supports to existing ones. In cases of severe damage, joist replacement may be the best option.

Repairing or replacing floor joists is done alongside other foundation repairs. Any necessary building permits or utilities that need to be disconnected will be acquired by one of our crew foremen.

What You Should Know About Foundation Leveling

Homes that need their foundations leveled have suffered from prolonged or severe soil movement. Soil often shifts because of excessive moisture or water, which is one of the leading causes of foundation damage.

The soil around and beneath your house will continue to shift because of heavy rain, melting snow and other geological factors over the years. Foundation waterproofing will prevent that water from seeping into your basement.

Take advantage of our FREE 68 Point Inspection of your foundation to find out how safe your home is.

Any repairs made by Keystone Basement Systems certified foundation specialists include regular maintenance and are backed by our Lifetime Warranty.